The directive to three Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) divisions in Kedah to re-hold their meetings has nothing to do with their nomination of Abdul Rahman Othman for party presidency, said PKR Kedah chairperson Johari Abdul.

He said the divisions - Langkawi, Pokok Sena and Padang Serai - were told to re-hold the meetings by the party's election committee (JKP).

This is because the earlier meetings went against procedure, he added.

"The directive from JKP has nothing to do with the decision to nominate former deputy president Abdul Rahman to contest for the top post in the coming party congress.

"It is only a coincidence that the three divisions told to re-hold their meetings had nominated Abdul Rahman. There is no hidden agenda here," he said when contacted.

Apart from the three, another branch Kulim-Bandar Baru, was also ordered to re-hold its meeting. This branch had nominated PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim for the top post.

Abdul Rahman was also nominated by the Merbok division.

PKR has 10 divisions in Kedah. The other five are Sungai Petani, Alor Star, Kubang Pasu, Kuala Kedah and Jerai.

Out of the 10, five divisions nominated Anwar while his wife and current PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail received one nomination.

Procedural problems

Meanwhile, Johari explained that among the procedural problems that led to JKP ordering the four divisions to re-hold their meetings were lack of quorum, members who have not paid their fee and objection from members.

"For example, the Padang Serai division was told to hold its meeting again because the members were unhappy with the manner in which the earlier meeting was carried out," he said.

Johari said observers at the meetings filed a report with the PKR Kedah liaison committee which was then sent to party secretary-general Kamarul Baharin Abbas. This was later forwarded to JKP

PKR Kedah secretary Abdul Hamid Othman also stressed that there was no agenda to punish the divisions which nominated Abdul Rahman.

"The JKP acted according to the rules. This is a democratic party and the divisions are free to nominate whoever they want," he said.

Yesterday, Kulim-Bandar Baru division head Adlizuan Shafizal Abdul Razak described the directive as "weird and confusing."

"We will wait and see if there are any quarters behind the directive," he said.